A controversy has erupted in Dahod district of Gujarat after a municipal fire tender was used to wash the private residence of BJP MLA and former minister Bachubhai Khabad. The incident took place in Pipero village of Dhanpur taluka where a Devgadh Baria municipality fire vehicle was sent to the MLA's bungalow and was seen spraying water on the exterior of the property. Videos of the incident later appeared on social media and criticism was directed at the use of the emergency government resource for private use.
The issue has attracted additional attention because Devgadh Baria and surrounding areas are apparently facing water shortages. The Gujarat Congress has questioned the use of a municipal fire tender for cleaning in case of fires and accidents when local people are experiencing shortages in water. The opposition has also demanded to know why the vehicle was sent to the MLA’s residence.
Fire Tender Travelled To MLA’s Residence
According to reports, the fire tender travelled about 24 to 25 kilometres from Devgadh Baria to Pipero village. Videos released from the site showed fire personnel using the vehicle’s water equipment to pour water on the outer walls of Khabad’s house. The incident apparently took place ahead of Diwali, when homes are usually cleaned and renovated as part of the festive preparations.
Municipal officials have said the vehicle was not initially dispatched with the understanding that it would be used for washing the bungalow. Devgadh Baria municipal officials said a call had come in from the MLA’s side and the vehicle was sent after officials believed there could be an emergency at the location.
Once firefighters got to the property, however, they were told to wash the exterior of the house. The fire personnel contacted their superior after they realized there was no fire-related emergency. The fire officer instructed them to stop the activity.
Officials Stop The Cleaning Operation
The cleaning operation was halted almost immediately after senior officials learned about what was happening. Devgadh Baria municipal officials said the fire tender had only begun the work when firefighters raised the issue with their officer.
Municipal chairperson Dharmesh Kalal said the vehicle was sent after he received a call from the MLA asking for a fire engine. At that time, officials thought the request could be serious, NDTV reported. After the actual purpose was clear, the fire department was told to stop the work and recover the applicable charges.
Fire officer Mayur Singh Chauhan also described the request as a hoax after the vehicle reached the residence. He said the firefighters informed him that they had been asked to wash the house rather than respond to an emergency. The firefighters did not immediately stop and said they had been asked to clean the house but that they were asked to wash the house and then stopped, and the matter was later halted and will be investigated.
Rs 2,700 Charged After Video Goes Viral
Following the controversy, the municipality recovered around Rs 2,700 from the MLA’s side for the deployment of the fire vehicle. Different reports have referred to the amount as a charge or recovery linked to the fire tender’s use. But the payment has not ended questions over whether the vehicle should have been dispatched for such a purpose in the first place.
The incident became widely discussed when videos of fire personnel spraying water around the residence circulated online. The footage raised questions about how public equipment, municipal water and government staff might have been used on a private property.
The issue also raises larger concerns about the lack of emergency resources. Devgadh Baria has a very limited firefighting setup, thus the deployment of a fire tender away from its normal area of operations is especially significant. The vehicle involved was the only fire tender of that municipality, the report said.
Gujarat Congress Seeks Logbook And Authorisation Details
Gujarat Congress has also called for an impartial inquiry into the incident. Manish Doshi of the party questioned who authorised the fire tender’s movement, under what conditions it was sent and how much water was poured during the operation.
The Congress also has been seeking access to the vehicle’s logbook and movement register, the expenses and the official who approved the deployment. The party claimed that the issue goes beyond the amount of water used since an emergency vehicle might not be able to be used if a fire, road accident or other urgent situation happened when it was outside the area.
The criticism has also focused on the supposed private use of the fire tender and water shortages for residents. Congress leaders have described the episode as an example of VIP culture and questioned whether public resources should be used for the benefit of individual political figures. These are opposition assertions, while municipal officials have said the vehicle was stopped once its purpose became clear.
🚨 Gujarat BJP MLA Summons Fire Brigade To Clean Bungalow; Charged ₹2,700 After Video Goes Viral. https://t.co/Po6y8VmnhW
— Gems (@gemsofbabus_) October 6, 2026
Questions Over Public Resources And Emergency Preparedness
The incident has brought into focus the responsibilities of government-owned emergency equipment. Fire tenders are maintained primarily for rapid response to fires and other emergencies, and it is important that they are in place when an emergency happens.
In this case, the municipal administration stopped the cleaning activity after officials were informed about its purpose. The reported recovery of the deployment cost also indicates that the city has seen the use as outside normal emergency operations. But the inquiry might be useful in determining why the vehicle was allowed to leave the station, who approved dispatch and what sort of municipal rules or procedures were breached.
For the time being, the episode is still under administrative and political scrutiny. The viral footage has turned what officials described as a mistaken or misleading call into a wider debate on accountability, water use and the handling of public emergency resources. Further details from the municipal inquiry and any action against officials involved will determine how the matter progresses.
